The Alabama Boys State and Girls State programs have been the spawning ground for Alabama political leaders for generations. It is a marvelous civic contribution that the American Legion has sponsored for almost a century in our state.

Memorial Day is designed for us to always remember, and never forget. Those words may sound synonymous but they really aren’t.

On Christmas Day, 1952, Sergeant Arthur Hullett received the news that his 22-year-old brother Ervin had been killed in Korea. They had grown up in a close-knit family, as two of eight children. The news understandably came as a shock. He realized that he’d never see his brother again. Both Hullett brothers had faced unimaginable challenges as part of their military service, suffering segregation and discrimination because of their race. Yet, they loved America and were proud to wear the uniform. Their belief that America is worth fighting for—and even worth dying for—led them to do heroic deeds in spite of all they had suffered.